As managing editor of Chicago continues to fret over the possibility of losing the NPE trade show.
Freelance columnist and blogger Dennis Byrne tackles the topic in a Nov. 3 column: "Chicago overwhelmed with spineless saps."
"Chicago is wimp city. A city full of obsequious voters, businesses and civic groups that have been repeatedly swindled, scammed and hosed by local politicians. Yet, with each betrayal, the serfs continue to grovel before such liege lords as Mayor Richard M. Daley and House Speaker Michael Madigan and beg for more of the same. Nothing is egregious enough to inspire insurrection by the city and state's vassals," he writes.
On the subject of NPE, Byrne has done his homework:
Daley now is fighting to keep a huge national plastics industry convention from fleeing Chicago, its 40-year home. The show brought in $95.3 million last June, but it appears the exhibitors are fed up with the extravagant costs they must pay to riggers, tradesmen and other organized workers at McCormick Place. As the trade publication Plastics News reported, Daley met Wednesday in his office with convention officials to plead with them to stay.The problem? As trade show exhibitor Tim Hanrahan explained in the publication, it cost $345 to get four cases of Pepsi to his booth. "The invoice breaks down to $254 for the four cases of Pepsi, a 21 percent service charge, and a 10.25 percent Illinois state sales tax, a 3 percent Chicago soft drink tax, a tax on the service charge and a food and beverage tax. Government taxes totaled $38.06, which is more than the legitimate retail price of the soft drinks," he said. "I could go on. A $640 TV stand rental is another good example," he said. "But you get the point."
Hanrahan gets the point, but do we? For the sake of a special interest -- organized labor in this case -- the body politic seems willing to drive away business that brings dollars into town. To finance the greed and corruption endemic here, we tolerate punishing taxes on the very businesses we plead with to stay.
As I've said before -- plastics industry, you've got Chicago's attention. Will it make a difference? Will the Society of the Plastics Industry Inc. get a better deal from McCormick Place in 2012 and 2015 -- or will it decide to give Orlando, Fla., a try instead?
Stay tuned.
Comments (2)
Speaking as both a former exhibitor and visitor at McCormick trade shows, the option is pretty clear.
The only action that makes the point AND BENEFITS THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY is to move the NPE to Orlando, not "negotiate" with a Mayor who "pleads" too little too late for plastics to stay.
Picture it, the plastics industry's new national marketing message to consumers who have been dumping plastics: "Please, please, please, American Consumers. If you ban plastics for paper, metal and glass, you are going to hurt the employees in our industry who have been delivering superior plastic products to you for decades."
Sounds like Daley's appeal: "Please, please, please, Plastics Industry. If you abandon Chicago for Orlando, you are going to hurt the union thugs at McCormick who have been screwing you for decades with bloated "official" costs, lengthy slacker work and subtle demands for cash pocket payments to get things done."
Please, please, please NPE Plastics Industry. Do what's right for your exhibitors and attendees to finally deliver a reasonably priced and non-hassled NPE. Move to Orlando. Chicago won't change, anyway; the corruption is endemic.
-GAM-
Posted by George A Makrauer | November 3, 2009 9:01 AM
Posted on November 3, 2009 09:01
Exhibitors at NPE have been financially raped by the experience, but even visitors have been subjected to the same treatment, albiet to a lesser degree.
I remember trying to buy pizza at the show many years ago. The sign at the cashier station clearly stated that taxes were included in the published menu prices. However, the cashier rang up a total with extra tax included. When I pointed out the sign that was in front of her face, she refused to back down. I had already wasted precious time waiting for my food to be served, and angrily paid the extra tax. However, I never went back to that vendor again, even at subsequent NPE shows. I did complain to NPE management, but don't know if the situation was ever resolved.
I look forward to NPE in Orlando.
Posted by HSangani | November 4, 2009 1:13 PM
Posted on November 4, 2009 13:13